Northern Ireland Wastewater System Delays Infrastructure Projects, Described as ‘Staggering’

Mark Durkan of the SDLP has characterized the volume of infrastructure projects facing delays in Northern Ireland, attributed to the condition of its wastewater system, as “staggering”. Durkan’s remarks were made during an appearance on BBC NI’s Sunday Politics, following statements by the head of NI Water, who described the system as being at “breaking point”. Sara Venning conveyed these observations to members of Stormont’s infrastructure committee, noting that NI Water had been instructed to formulate plans with a budget amounting to “nearly half of what is needed”. Durkan urged the executive and the relevant minister to implement measures addressing the “outdated infrastructure”. Last year, housebuilding in Northern Ireland reached its lowest point in 60 years, partly as a consequence of limitations on new connections to an inadequately funded water system. These restrictions are currently delaying plans for approximately 19,000 homes, impacting construction activities across 23 towns. Durkan, who serves as a member of the legislative assembly for Foyle and sits on the infrastructure committee, stated: “It’s been staggering, some of the stories we’ve heard from the construction industry, from architects, from agents and consultants.” He added that the issue has “Increasingly though, it’s gone beyond those professional bodies into the wider public.” Durkan further elaborated: “They are seeing this, people actually looking to build extensions to their houses, people looking to make adaptations for family members with disabilities, they’re even encountering these difficulties due to the state of Northern Ireland water’s infrastructure and the state of their finances.” A report published in March by the NI Audit Office (NIAO) recommended a thorough expert examination into the funding and governance mechanisms of NI Water. The report indicated that NI Water has faced challenges in obtaining sufficient funding for infrastructure enhancements since its inception in 2007. Furthermore, the NIAO report cautioned that the shortfall in investment could “profoundly affect” the executive’s capacity to achieve its economic objectives. The NIAO’s findings also suggested that an agreed plan to allocate £2.1 billion towards infrastructure between 2021 and 2027 may not be entirely fulfilled. Previously, a spokesperson for NI Water attributed the wastewater system’s current capacity issues to a history of underinvestment. NI Water has also indicated that its present budget allocation from the Department for Infrastructure falls below the levels deemed essential by the Utility Regulator for both operational expenditures and capital investments. Consequently, NI Water stated: “We are working through a process of prioritising the asset investments that may progress. Inevitably, this means there is investment that has been planned that is now being deferred.” Earlier this year, John O’Dowd, Stormont’s infrastructure minister, dismissed the possibility of mutualising NI Water, asserting that such a move would unavoidably lead to household water bills. Mutualisation entails transforming NI Water from a government-owned company into an entity owned by its customers.